. >> reporter: the christmas day storm is being blamed for a young man's death in houston. he was trying to push aside a downed tree, when another tree snapped and fell on top of him, killing him instantly. blizzard conditions blanketed the midwest and beyond. snowplows had to clear roads as far south as lubbock, texas. interstate 40 near the intersection of i-35 and oklahoma was closed for most of christmas morning after a massive car pileup. freezing rain conditions caused 21 vehicles to crash into one another. several people were taken to the hospital. the storms are only expected to increase in strength as they sweep across the nation, delivering another heavy blow to the midwest on wednesday. and 10 inches of snow, meaning traveling home in the days after christmas could become even more treacherous. brad wheelis, abc news, los angeles. >> i'm glad we're in new york city right now where we've been spared. but it's one thing for those storms to happen. but it's another to happen this week. there are millions of people on the road, on airplanes, going places for the holi